Wichita eagle., 1887-08-27
A TREE MAN TALKS.
SHADE TREES MAY BE PLANTED,
EVEN IF 10 YEARS OLD.
How the Work Is Successfully Accom-.
plished by a Chicago Man-Difficulsies
which Modern Skill Has Overcome
Planting Big Tree.


Which Modern Skill Has Overcome
Planting a Big Tree.
Said Mr. Peterson, well known tree man,
the other day: ~ hardly know how to ina-
press upon you some idea of the tree business.
The fire of 1871 swept away everything In the
way of city trees, and especially on the north
side, where tree culture in the residence streets
had been studied and developed. The beauti-
full lindens elns, catalpas and all, then in their
first and best vigor, went down in second.
Possession of trees and shade is something
of a luxury, but what luxury shade tree
isl The popular idea is that a tree must have
been planted good many years before it will
throw out a leaf. That is nonsense Any
tree man will plant shade trees all the way
up to 10 years old, and guarantee their
growth and shade. Give me ten square feet
of ground and 1 will plant you venerable
monarch of the forest"
This is not the popularity accepted idea,
which is that trees grow from slips and
sprouts and require years Of patience. But
the nurseryman told of his Lincoln tree"
which he planted on his own grounds in 1865
the day Lincolns body was in state at
BRYAN hall. Mr. Peterson said: at was
big tree then-a great one. 1t was seventy
five feet high and three feet in diameter.
The tree is now a giant. 1t is an elm, and
its shade covers nearly half an acre" Mr..
Peterson has planted lot of memorial trees
on his grounds. He has two Garfield trees,
one each for Sherman. Thomas, Sheridan,
and when Grant visited Chicago last he
planted two other monarchs which are now
in full and majestic growth.
The popular idea is that trees must be mere
sprouts when put il the ground. Many peo-
Die are deferred from arbor culture because
they think that life is too short to see a tree
grow. Modern skill has overcome all that
difficulty. Peterson is but one of a dozen of
his class who can transplant a tree dozen
years old Said another arbor culturist at
the South park:
"Trees depend largely upon those who
plant 7em. Il would be silly to suppose that
at this late day we are going to wait for the
tree to grow in its own soil. Some of us who
are 30 or Whereabouts are not going to plant
prairie with sprouts We can put down
maples-the soft variety-the most beautiful
shade tree in the world, already four inches
in diameter, for 81 There is no shade tree
like the maple, unless it be the English wal
nut, and that grows best in southern Califor-
MIA. But Of the trees best suited here are the
linden, ash, box elder and all the varieties Of
maple; then the great sycamore. There are
scores of varieties of these, and the student OF
arbor culture is stumped at once III his selec-
tons. But the silver leaf maple is the finest
shade tree of this climate.
THE FASTEST GROWING TREE.
The eucalyptus is the fastest growing tree
that ever implanted itself on American soil.
1t would probably grow in Florida or Louisi-
ana, or perhaps in Texas. 1t would not grow
at all about Chicago or anywhere in lake lat
itudes But in California all one has to do is
to cut sprout. stick it in the ground and in
two weeks he will see that the thing is under
way. When it is said uuthfully that In three
years twelve cords of wood can be cut from
that sprout, some idea can be formed of the
Australian "blue gum" and its growth. But
none of these trees are fitted for the climate
here and it is useless to speak of them. The
great shade trees Of this region are the elm
and the maple"
at is exactly eleven years ago." said Mr..
Peterson, that l planted what l called the
centennial elm in Washington park. 1t was
done in February, 1876 This elm was more
than 100 years old, three feet in diameter at
the base, nearly sixty feet In height, Of SYM
metrical proportions, having ball of earth
twelve feet in diameter, the whole weighing
upward of twenty tons, and was removed
from its native forest, requiring twenty
horses for its carriage" That merely shows
what can be done. In Chicago the trees
which seek rootage along the sidewalks are
of the harder kinds. They come at all ages.
Those who pay most get the best and oldest.
The elms are sometimes seven years old when
transplanted. All come with huge ball OF
earth-their native sofia cavity is dug, the
tree is put in and guged, and in the spring
time the buds and blossoms follow as if nc
disturbance had been had.
"How do you plant these big trees, and
when" was asked of one man who knew his
business. The popular idea is that autumn
is the time" remarked his questioner.
THAT is nonsense" replied the tree man
at makes no difference when. All we neeI
is big hole to put the tree in, a big team to
draw it and big price for the tree"
And what is that price," was asked.
"All the way from $40 to Safeguarding
upon the long haul or short haul-you seer"
The tree man was inclined to joke. but as
matter of fact he and his kind plant trees and
make them grow, all along the streets and
boulevards, for great deal less money. Most |
of them are put down in their full maturity.
They come with great balls of earth and are
gently let into excavations and the upper
surface sodded. All that is needed then is |
plenty of water.
The tree man continued: 1.-The trees are
watered by letting down barrel with two |
holes in the bottom. Fill this barrel with |
water and let it gradually seep through into
the ground. The trees roots, and especially |
the young ones, are sure to find it. Every |
body ought TO plant a tree or two, especially |
if he owns foot or two of ground to plant |
them on. 4 maple of four inches in diane |
ter can be planted at a cost of 81. There isn't |
a tree in the whole category that cannot be |
got for 81, more or less. Therefore there is |
no excuse for anybody that may own an acre |